Device for Converting the Power of Sea Wave Motion

ABSTRACT

A device for converting wave-motion power having a float, which, in use, is vertically movable in response to the wave-motion; the motion being transmitted to an input shaft which rotates with reciprocating rotary motion and is connected to an output shaft by way of a transmission unit. The transmission unit transfers torque from the input shaft to the output shaft along two torque paths and has two freewheels that are arranged respectively along the two paths, and are configured so as to make the rotation of the output shaft unidirectional, independently of the rotation direction of the input shaft.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a device for converting wave-motionpower.

BACKGROUND ART

As is known, the need is increasingly felt to exploit so-calledalternative and/or renewable energy sources, to reduce the use of fossilfuels and, therefore, to not inflict environmental conditions withpollutants. In addition to solar energy and wind energy, anotherpotential source of energy that could be used is that defined by thewave-motion of the seas. Said wave-motion involves a cyclical rise andfall of the upper surface of the sea and could be used to actuatemechanical members in a substantially continuous and inexhaustible way.

Devices are known which, through a combination of opposed overrunningclutches, turn the reciprocating and uneven motion of a float in aunidirectional rotary motion of a shaft connected to a generator ofelectricity. However, in order to optimize the efficiency of energyconversion, it is appropriate to optimize the size of the float inparticular to reduce the device kinematic oscillation or torque output.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

The aim of the present invention is to provide a device for convertingoptimized wave-motion power.

According to the present invention a device is made to convertwave-motion power, as defined in claim 1.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described with reference to the annexeddrawings, which illustrate a non limitative embodiment, in which:

FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a preferred embodiment of the devicefor converting wave-motion power;

FIG. 2 schematically shows a detail of the device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 schematically illustrates a device having an improved floataccording to the present invention; and

FIG. 4 illustrates a second embodiment of a detail of the presentinvention.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

In FIG. 1, numeral 1 indicates a device for converting wave-motion powerinto mechanical energy and to rotate a shaft 2 about its own axis 3 in asingle rotation direction (FIG. 2).

The device 1 comprises a float 5 which is partially submerged in the seaand is connected to a swing arm 6. One end of the arm 6 is indicated byreference number 8, and is hinged around an axis 9 substantiallyhorizontal to a structure 10 which is arranged outside of the sea and isfixed to the shore or at the bottom of the sea. The other end of the arm6 is indicated by reference number 11 and is coupled to a top portion 12of the float 5, preferably by a hinge or a junction to allow relativerotation about an axis parallel to the axis 9.

The arm 6 is part of a lever 13, which has an arm 14 which radiallyextends upwards and ends with an attaching portion connected to a rack15 by way of a tie rod 16. The rack 15 meshes with a pinion 17 having ahorizontal axis 18 and, preferably, is guided in a way not shown totranslate with alternating motion along a direction tangential to thepinion 17 itself.

The pinion 17 drives in rotation a shaft 19, which preferably is coaxialto the pinion 17. In view of the alternating motion of the waves and,therefore, the swing of the arm 6, the pinion 17 and the shaft 19 rotateintegrally with each other about the axis 18 with an alternating rotarymotion, i.e. in opposite directions of rotation of an angle that dependson the vertical travel of the float 5.

With reference to FIG. 2, the axes 18 and 3 are preferably parallel. Theshaft 19 is connected to the shaft 2 by way of a transmission unit 20,which transfers torque to the shaft 2, is configured to share the torqueitself along two paths 21, 22 and 23 and comprises two freewheels 23, 24or overrunning clutches respectively, arranged along the paths 21,22.

The freewheels 23, 24 are configured so as to make unidirectionalrotation of the shaft 2, regardless of the rotation direction of theshaft 19. In other words, when the shaft 19 rotates, only a freewheel ata time transmits torque. The other of the freewheels 23, 24 becomesactive and transmits torque only in case of reverse rotation of theshaft 19, whereas when the first disengages the rotation between theshafts 2, 19.

If the shaft 19 does not rotate, in case of arrest of the pinion 17, forexample due to a momentary lack of waves on the sea, the two freewheels23, 24 do not transmit torque, but leave the output members 23 b, 24 bfree to rotate, so that the shaft 2 continues to rotate by inertia,always in the same rotation direction.

The freewheels 23, 24 comprise respective input members 23 b, 24 aoperated with rotation directions opposite to each other but areconfigured so as to transmit torque to the respective members 23 b, 24 bin the same rotation direction. In the opposite direction, the outputmembers 23 b, 24 b are angularly decoupled by respective input members23 a, 24 a.

For example, when the pinion 17 and the shaft 19 rotatecounterclockwise, the input member 23 a is driven so as to rotatecounterclockwise as well. The output member 23 b receives input torquefrom the input member 23 a and then rotates counterclockwise as well.Said torque is transmitted to the shaft 2, in particular by way of agear transmission 26 which forms part of the path 21. The geartransmission 26 reverses the rotation direction between the outputmember 23 b and the shaft 2, therefore in the formulated workinghypothesis the shaft 2 rotates clockwise. At the same time, the inputmember 24 a rotates clockwise (i.e., opposite to the rotation directionof the input member 23 a). The output member 24 b is free with respectto the rotation of the input member 24 a and, therefore, is driven inrotation by the shaft 2, in particular by way of a gear transmission 27which forms part of the path 22. The gears transmission 27 reverses therotation direction, therefore in the formulated working hypothesis, withthe shaft 19 which rotates counterclockwise and the shaft 2 that rotatesclockwise, the output member 24 b rotates counterclockwise.

But when instead the pinion 17 and the shaft 19 rotate clockwise, theinput member 24 a rotates counterclockwise. The output member 24 breceives torque from the input member 24 a and therefore also rotatescounterclockwise. Said torque is transmitted to the shaft 19 by way ofthe gear transmission 27. As mentioned above, the gear transmission 26reverses the rotation direction, therefore in the formulated workinghypothesis the shaft 2 continues to rotate clockwise, despite thereversal of the rotation direction of the shaft 19. At the same time,the input member 23 a rotates counterclockwise (i.e., opposite to therotation direction of the input member 24 a), and the output member 23 bis free with respect to the rotation of the input member 23 a.Therefore, the output member 23 b is driven in rotation by the shaft 2,by way of the gear transmission 26, and therefore rotates clockwise.

To transmit the movement from the shaft 19 to the input members 23 a, 24a, preferably the unit 20 comprises a gear train 30, which in turncomprises: a gear 31 coaxial and fixed with respect to the shaft 19, agear 32 that meshes with the gear 31, and which is coaxial and fixedwith respect to the input member 24 a (by way of a shaft not shown); anda gear 33 that meshes with the gear 32 and which is coaxial and fixedwith respect to the input member 23 a (by way of another shaft notshown). Thanks to the meshing of the gears 32 and 33, the input members23 a and 24 a rotate in opposite directions to each other.

Preferably, the transmission ratio between the shaft 19 and the inputmember 23 a is equal to the transmission ratio between the shaft 19 andthe input member 24 a. Preferably, also the transmissions 26,27 have thesame ratio, so that in the two torque paths 21,22 there is the sameoverall transmission ratio between the shaft 19 and the shaft 2.

Returning now to FIG. 1, the float 5 must have a density sufficientlylow to allow floating and having an overall mass, however, sufficientlyhigh to generate a satisfactory rotational torque on the pinion 17 alsowhen the waves retreat and therefore the float 5 must go down due to thegravitational force of acceleration.

“Overall mass” stands for the sum of the mass of the float 5 itself anda possible mass fraction of the lever 13 which is discharged upon thefloat 5, and not at the point where the lever 13 is bound to thestructure 10.

The overall mass, measured in kilograms, should preferably be comprisedbetween 25% and 50% with respect to the volume occupied by the floatitself measured in dm̂3. As a reference, if a float had a volume of 1 dm̂3and the mass of 1 kg, a value of 100% would be achieved as well as anindifferent floating in distilled water. In this way the size of thefloat is optimized and has a substantially compact ratiomass—encumbrance to reduce environmental impact.

Preferably, the float has a circular shape, in section with horizontalsection planes, to adapt to marine and climatic disturbances. Thegeometric shape of the float is therefore a truncated cone, with thesmaller submerged base circle. Preferably, the difference between thediameter of the larger base circle and the diameter of the smaller basecircle is equal to about 25% of the larger base circle, and the heightis equal to about the diameter of the smaller base circle. For example,the diameter of the smaller base circle and the height are equal to 0.75m, while the diameter of the larger base circle is equal to 1 m.

With reference to FIG. 3, a float 50 can be advantageously made bycombining a concentrated mass 51 and a highly-floating element 52. Thefloat 50 has an axisymmetric shape and defines a single body having thecenter of gravity located preferably in the volume occupied by theconcentrated mass 51 so as to ensure high stability to the float 50itself. In other words, the float 50 does not have a uniform densityand, preferably, the density of the concentrated mass 51 is greater thanthat of water and the arm 6 is connected to the float 50 from theopposite side of the concentrated mass 51 with respect to thehighly-floating element 52. Furthermore, with respect to the freesurface of water, the concentrated mass 51 has a transverse dimensionless than the one of the highly-floating elements 52 so that the overallmass of the float 50 can be considered concentrated in a portion havinga cross section less than that of the highly-floating element 52.Preferably, the maximum transverse dimension of the highly-floatingelement 52 is greater than or equal to four times the maximum transversedimension of the mass concentrated element 51. In addition, the maximumheight of the mass concentrated element 51 is at least 1.5 times greaterthan the maximum height of the highly-floating element 52.

According to a schematic example, considering the elements 51 and 52 asrespective cylinders defined by a housing 54 of the float 50, theelement 51 is filled with concrete and the element 52 is empty or filledwith a low density polymer foam so that the overall density of the float50 is discontinuous between element 51 and element 52. Consideringnegligible the masses of the element 52 and of the housing 54 withrespect to the one of element 51, the center of gravity COG of the float50 coincides with that of element 51 and is located within the volume ofelement 51 itself, particularly in the geometric center of the latter.

Based on the above mentioned proportions, the float 50 follows a risingprofile of the waves effectively through the element 52 and, along adownward profile of the waves, the mass of the element 51 releases anamount of potential gravitational energy useful for reducing the torquefluctuations of shaft 2.

In FIG. 4 a drive unit 60 is schematically illustrated comprising adouble toothed rack 61 connected to the rod 16 for the alternatingmotion induced by the float 50, a first and a second pinion 62 and 63meshing on opposing teeth of the rack 61 and a transmission 64 forconnecting together the pinions 62, 63 and the shaft 19 so that to thealternating motion of the rack 61 corresponds an unidirectional rotarymotion of the shaft 2. Preferably, the transmission 63 comprises a pairof wheels 65, 66 connected by a belt or a chain with each other andrespectively coupled to the pinions 62, 63. In addition, the pinions 62,63 comprise respective overrunning clutches configured so that, for alinear movement of the rack 61 in a first direction, the pinion 62drives in rotation the shaft 2 and the pinion 63 is neutral. When thelinear movement of the rack 61 is in a second direction opposite thefirst direction, the pinion 63 drives in rotation the shaft 2 while thepinion 62 is neutral. The shaft 2 is connected to an output of thetransmission 64 and the unit 60, therefore, comprises elements rotatableabout no more than two axes C and D, respectively the first and secondpinion 62, 63.

In addition, when the present invention comprises a dynamo to generateelectricity, the overall mass of the float 5, 50 is calculated takinginto account the mass and inertia in design conditions of the arm 6, andthe transmission 60 on the basis of the minimum torque required by thedynamo itself in order for an input shaft of the latter to rotate atleast at 10 rpm. It is necessary to consider that for applications forconverting wave-motion power permanent magnet dynamos are optimal havingan operating characteristic such that the torque required for operationdecreases as the number of revolutions increases. Therefore, a run of atleast 10 rpm provides the torque necessary for the operation of thedynamo also at a higher speed. Said value advantageously defines athreshold beyond which converting wave-motion power is most efficient.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 1, the device according to the presentinvention may comprise an actuator 70 to lock the arm 6 in a fixed andpossibly preset position, such as during a storm to avoid damage.Preferably, the fixed position is such that the float 5, 50 ismaintained for most of the time above the tops of the waves. Preferably,the actuator is designed to raise and retain in said fixed position thearm 6 and the float 50, 5 against gravity.

From the foregoing it is evident that the shaft 2 has an unidirectionalrotary motion, and has a substantially regular rotational motion,therefore can be applied for dragging an electricity generator, such asa dynamo.

In addition, a float having an overall density in the range mentionedabove is particularly suitable for recovering energy even when the waveis descending. In this way, the motion and the torque of the shaft 2 arefurther regularized to the benefit of the production of energy,particularly electricity, with high yields. In particular, at growingdensity of the float the motion would be regularized, but small tomedium sized waves would have a low or minimal impact in reducing theenergy recovered. In contrast, a too light float would increase theirregularity of the motion in order to have a negative impact on theefficiency of converting power, particularly if the float is associatedto a dynamo.

A further advantage of a device comprising a float according to claim 1is that a beneficial compromise between conflicting requirements isfound. In fact, to follow the wave profile efficiently, it would berequired a low density value, in particular to take advantage of theslope between the trough to the crest of the wave. On the contrary, acertain compactness in transverse dimension, which would lead to anincrease in density, it is useful to fit the float at not excessivewavelengths so that the device works with acceptable yields in mostnumber of possible sea conditions. The best compromise is found by therange described above, and in a further advantageous way, when saidrange is between 25% and 30%.

The float 50 has a non-uniform density and thus the stability of thefloat on the waves is improved. In particular, the shape of the latteris best followed, individually or in combination, by the fact that thefloat 5, 50 is hinged to the arm 6, the fact that the float itselfpresents a center of gravity arranged towards the lower part of thevolume of the float and the fact that the element 52 presentscross-sectional dimensions much larger with respect to the element 51.

In addition, the gear ratios can be modified, without inhibiting theposition of shafts 2, 19 and the two shafts (not shown) on which arekeyed the freewheels 23, 24 and gears 32, 33, according to that whichwill use the mechanical power supplied from the shaft 2.

Furthermore from the foregoing it appears evident that to the describeddevice 1 changes and variations can be applied without going beyond theprotective scope of the present invention, as defined in the appendedclaims.

In particular, the gear ratios of the two paths 21,22 may be differentone from the other, to compensate for any differences in torque betweenthe ascent and descent phase of the float 5.

The gear transmissions could be replaced by a toothed belt or chaingears, for example, for less expensive solutions and/or solutions withrelatively low power.

The shaft 19 could be connected to the end 8 to rotate about the axis 9,or may be coupled to the arm 6 in a different way from the oneillustrated.

1. A device for converting wave-motion power, comprising: a float (5,50), which, in use, is movable in opposition to the gravity accelerationin response to the wave-motion; an input shaft (19) and an output shaft(2) rotatable about respective axes (18,3); first transmission means(6,13,15,16,17) for transmitting the motion of said float (5) in areciprocating rotary motion of said input shaft (19); secondtransmission means (20), which transfer torque from said input shaft(19) to said output shaft (2), are configured so as to split the torquein two torque paths (21,22) and comprise two freewheels (23,24) arrangedrespectively along said paths, (21,22); said freewheels (23,24) beingconfigured so as to make the rotation of said output shaft (2)unidirectional, independently of the rotation direction of said inputshaft (19), said device being characterized in that said float (5, 50)has an overall mass measured in kilograms comprised in the range between25% and 50% of the volume of the float measured in cubic decimeters,said overall mass being evaluated taking into account at least saidfirst transmission means (6,13,15,16,17).
 2. The device according toclaim 1, characterized in that said float (50) has a non-uniform densityand comprises a first portion (51) having a first density and a secondportion (52) having a second density lower than that first density, saidfirst transmission means comprising an arm (6) hinged to said float (50)from the opposite side of said first portion (51) with respect to saidsecond portion (52).
 3. The device according to claim 2, characterizedin that said second portion (52) has a maximum transverse dimension ofat least four times the maximum transverse dimension of said firstportion (51), the mass of said float (50) can be considered concentratedin the volume of said first portion (51).
 4. The device according toclaim 3, characterized in that said first portion (51) has a maximumheight of at least 1.5 times the maximum height of said second portion(52).
 5. The device according to any of the preceding claims,characterized in that said second transmission means (60) compriserotating members (62,63,65,66) about no more than two parallel axes (C,D).
 6. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterizedin that the axes (18,3,C,D) of said input and output shafts (19,2) arereciprocally parallel, and in that said freewheels (23,24) compriserespective input members (23 a, 24 a) operated with opposite rotationdirections.
 7. The device according to claim 6, characterized in thatsaid freewheels (23,24,62,63) are configured so as to transmit torque torespective output members (23 b,24 b) in the same rotation direction; inthe opposite direction, said output members (23 b,24 b) being angularlyfree with respect to respective said input members (23 a,24 a).
 8. Thedevice according to any one of claims 6 to 7, characterized in that saidfreewheels (23,24) are mounted on respective shafts parallel anddistinct from said output shaft (2); said second transmission means (20)comprising two transmissions (26,27), which are respectively part ofsaid torque paths (21,22) and are each interposed between said outputshaft (2) and a corresponding said freewheel (23,24).
 9. The deviceaccording to claim 8, characterized in that each of said transmissionsinverts the rotation direction between said output shaft (2) and thecorresponding said freewheel (23,24).
 10. The device according to claim8 or 9, characterized in that said transmissions (26,27) are geartransmissions.
 11. The device according to claim 10, characterized inthat said freewheels (23,24) are mounted on respective shafts paralleland distinct from said input shaft (19); said second transmission means(20) comprising a gear train (30) having: a first gear (31) coaxial andfixed with respect to said input shaft (19); a second gear (32), whichmeshes with said first gear (31) and is coaxial and fixed with respectto an input member (24 a) of one of said freewheels (24), and a thirdgear (33), which meshes with said second gear (32) and is coaxial andfixed with respect to an input member (23 a) of the other of saidfreewheels (23).
 12. The device according to any of the precedingclaims, characterized in that said first transmission means comprise alever arm having a first end coupled to a top portion of said float anda second end hinged to a fixed structure.
 13. The device according toany of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises apermanent magnet dynamo (69) and in that said float (5,50) is sized toprovide at least the required torque from said dynamo at a rate of 10rpm.
 14. Device according to any of the preceding claims, characterizedin that it comprises a device (70) connected to said transmission means(6,13,15,16,17) to lock said float (5, 50) in a preset position.
 15. Thedevice according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in thatthe overall mass is comprised between 25% and 30% of said volume.